Carmarthenshire Council spent £81,047 on emergency safety measures at the historic but privately owned Garnant Workmen's Hall after slates fell from its roof, and a local councillor is now demanding more action to recover the taxpayers' money.
Council Intervention on Safety Grounds
The council intervened two years ago because slates were falling from the roof. One slate reportedly embedded itself in the external wall insulation of a nearby property during a storm. The £81,047 expenditure covered netting and associated staff costs.
Councillor Kevin Madge has been pressing the council on its efforts to recoup the sum. He described the outstanding debt as “unacceptable” and called for further action through the courts.
Legal Charge Placed on Property
A council spokeswoman confirmed that the authority has taken enforcement action against the owners under two relevant pieces of legislation to secure the roof and prevent trespass. A legal charge has also been placed against any future sale of the property by the current owners to recover the costs. The council continues to monitor the building for public safety and will keep the case for further court action under review.
History of the Hall
Garnant Workmen's Hall opened in 1927 and has hosted operas, concerts, plays, films, and discos. It later became a private leisure centre and then a children's play facility, but has been empty for many years. In 2009, Dyfed-Powys Police discovered around 4,000 cannabis plants being grown in the cellar. Eight years ago, the council approved plans to demolish the building and create a care home, but the private scheme did not materialise.
Local Concerns
A Garnant resident, who asked not to be named, told the Local Democracy Reporting Service that youngsters breaking into the boarded-up building has been a problem, and there was a fire around a year ago. The building is now more secure, although children sometimes get into the yard at the rear. “The roof is the big issue,” he said, noting that slates had fallen onto the pavement before the netting was installed. “It’s an enormous property and it needs a whole new roof.” He expressed disappointment that the care home project did not proceed and said new homes would be welcome. “Anything is better than it is now,” he added.
Councillor Calls for Action
Two years ago, Cllr Madge put forward a motion for the hall to be placed in public ownership and saved from ruin, but it was not passed. Now the former Labour council leader is urging the authority to recover its expenditure through the courts. “It is simply unacceptable that over £81,000 of taxpayers’ money remains outstanding,” he said. “The hall and adjoining shop have effectively been abandoned and are being allowed to rot away.” Cllr Madge also criticised the Plaid Cymru-Independent-run council for directing more investment to other areas, pointing to its £40 million-plus refurbishment of the former Debenhams store in Carmarthen, while his area was “offered small pots of funding”.
The council spokeswoman said the authority continues to monitor the building and will keep the case for further action through the courts under review. Carmarthenshire’s Plaid Cymru group was also invited to comment.
